“How To Be A Nigerian” By Jean Herskovits | Sahara Reporters

“How To Be A Nigerian” By Jean Herskovits | Sahara Reporters

Corporate Social Responsibility A Broader View

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Providing a clear definition for corporate social responsibility (CSR) is gradually becoming a subject for argument as corporations deem most government’s policies on CSR to be a form of shirking their responsibility while the government on the other hand sees companies – especially multinational corporations as not doing enough for the environment where their businesses operate.  The debate on CSR started as far back as the 20^th century and there are still arguments over the clear definition of what CSR is and what it should entail.

CSR is more of a morale issue which corporate organizations are expected to take on without undue pressure from government and others.

According to the department of Trade and Industry in the United Kingdom, CSR represents the integrity with which a company governs itself, fulfills its mission, lives by its values, engages with its stakeholders, measures its impact and reports on its activities.”

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development defines CSR as “the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large."

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) defines CSR as “the commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable economic development by working with employees, their families, the local community and society at large to improve their lives in ways that are good for business and for development."

CSR is the duty that corporations are expected to willingly perform in the environment where their business operates; in simple terms, it is a responsible way of doing business. Corporations should not be compelled under normal situations to perform these duties however time and again many companies have shown reason why they must be put under pressure to make them take up one form of CSR or the other. Pressure is normally mounted on companies by government, the media, consumer advocacy groups and other civil societies to make corporations conduct sustainable business practices.

Globalization has greatly empowered companies while placing developing countries in a very vulnerable position to the extent that the CSR policies which multinational companies operate in developed countries like the USA are quite different from what obtains in a country like Nigeria.  Activities of consumer interest groups, the media and the government have to a large extent checked the tendency of multinational as well a local companies to deplete and degrade the environment without any thought development of the community or for the safe and hygienic survival of members of the community.

Several years ago, a certain Mr. Nana of Koko a small village near Warri was paid by unknown persons to store in his compound some drums of substances that comprehensive laboratory analysis later proved to be harmful chemicals. Not much care was applied in the disposal of condemned chemicals or equipment that have become useless or for general industrial waste and this is a menace that most third world countries are made to endure by large corporations doing business in their communities. The issue of degradation of the environment is a very sensitive one which further necessitates companies to be actively involved in CSR.  People take a lot more interest in the activities of companies especially as it affects the environment and for this reason, a lot of companies have come to appreciate the need for them to put in place policies that will promote protection of the environment as their fundamental corporate value. Where the government has failed to enforce careful and considerate disposal of industrial waste, the people and civil societies as well as the media are left with very little power to enforce these policies. It becomes clear why it is a moral issue for corporations to actively participate in CSR.

 CSR includes performing duties such as providing safe and conducive working conditions for employees, making contributions to social groups and charities with the community, taking adequate care to protect the environment from pollution resulting from their operations, providing scholarships and education grants to deserving students and also sponsoring education awards or a chair in institutions of higher learning within their business locality. There are very many other ways by which corporations can offer CSR in developing countries especially with the peculiar way in which government fails in carrying out much of its duty in providing basic amenities and infrastructure for communities.

While many multinational corporations have gone as far as constructing and furnishing health centers and schools for communities, many companies have simply gone ahead with their business without any tangible contribution to the improvement of their host communities. Probing among some of these companies revealed that certain members of the communities have called to demand and have been paid in cash what should or could have been expended on the development of the community.

There is a particularly nauseating stench (some stale or rancid type of cooking fat) that hits one’s nostrils as an eatery, hotel or restaurant is sighted; it has become one of the quickest ways of recognizing that there is such facility in the neighbourhood. It is expected that the management of such companies would take necessary steps to rid the environment of such ugly odour that comes from their activities in the locality as a CSR initiative.  Most of these companies relate with government officials and would not want to discuss with members of the community on the excuse that they have been heavily taxed and certain members of the community (usually government officials) have collected everything they had earmarked for CSR. This is quite a peculiar way to develop the community as no form of development is evident.

Companies that are active in the area of CSR benefit in that their participation will show their interest in improving the lives of their employees, consumers of their brands and the environment. Active CSR also puts the corporation in the position of an economically stable one enough to attract and retain employees and customers. In addition, such companies are able to establish the reputation for integrity and best practices among members of the community as well as their employees.

Companies are also now expected to perform well in areas like human rights, business ethics, environmental policies, corporate contributions, community development, corporate governance and workplace issues. A lot of human rights issues which have been arisen in corporate organizations are traced to corruption in the form of indigenes receiving cash gifts from management and to a large extent, such companies take advantage of the people.

“Governments may derive greater developmental benefits from CSR where there is a national strategy framework which explicitly recognizes its potential contribution and seeks to align CSR with development goals. Foreign investors bring with them expertise on CSR that could be tapped more effectively to strengthen domestic capabilities; contractual arrangements and public-private partnerships are two ways of doing so.”(Innovation Briefs of United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development)

What obtains in Nigeria and many other developing countries is that multinational corporations are believed not to be doing enough for their host communities in that they undertake CSR initiatives that are very poor compared to what they give in rich countries. CSR is an opportunity for the government and the community to secure steps in sustainable development and every care must be taken to ensure that what is being offered is meaningful without necessarily laying too much of an administrative burden on the corporations.

By virtue of the fact that meaningful and active CSR will be beneficial to company, employee, government and the society it will be good for CSR to be approached as a fundamental corporate value of the company rather than as a means of exploiting the community as a whole. It is all about being responsible without the need for added pressure being mounted from authorities.

WE ARE ALL INVOLVED

“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” (Prov. 13 vs. 22)

Parents struggle and save to send their children to the best schools, to put them in a favourable position to compete with their mates. Most parents spend all they earn and own to give their children the very best of training and some end up not having enough left over to complete their own personal buildings or to even start a building project. Many have come to appreciate that sending children to developed countries like the United Kingdom and the United States of America to study opens up a world of abundant opportunities for the children. Like every investment, there are risks involved; there may be accidents or diversions that may lead to delay in returns on investment or a total loss of investment. Nevertheless, people continue to make effort.

Parents have done their bit and it is left to those who have been trained to maintain the legacy. This brings to the question, “what legacy have we left for the coming generation?” In fairness to our parents, we were not denied or deprived of good quality of education but have we succeeded in providing same for the generation coming after us? Education determines the foundation of a society; a society founded on a faulty foundation cannot sustain itself. It is bound to collapse. No matter how hard the people pray, the structure must come down.

A group of students were on a radio programme a few weeks ago interacting with other students; the quality of their ability to interact was so poor that when the phone lines were opened for members of the public to have their say, these students were given the tongue-lashing of their lives. Strangely, one of them felt so embarrassed that it took a colleague of hers to be consoling her on air. I was very happy because the programme provided the perfect opportunity for people to face the reality of what damage is being done to the future generation. The truth is that the young people of today cannot hold a decent discussion without breaking into vernacular, slangs or text language.

The crux of the matter here is that our fathers trained us well and gave us their best but have we prepared well for tomorrow’s children, do we plan to leave them with a completely depleted reserve base or an empty treasury? We had great men and women in the history of Nigeria who toiled and fought for Nigeria to remain one. We had people like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kano, Michael Opara, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Gani Fawehinmi, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Sawabo Gambo, Margaret Ekpo and so many others who put in so much for this country and ensured that there was a rich, buoyant and vibrant Nigeria left for the next generation. They left Nigeria in a position of pride and dignity, in a position of excellence and splendor and in a position of wealth and glory.

And like the “prodigal son” this generation has succeeded in squandering all that was left behind by our leaders of past. This generation stands accused and if the history writers do not compromise their position, they will enter it into the book of records that this is one generation that mismanaged the resources of the land so much that it mortgaged the economy to pirates and carpet-baggers. This generation will be held responsible for the carnage that has so far seen the death of over two thousand Nigerians in the hands of violent insurgent groups who have determined that Nigeria will be made “ungovernable.”

This generation will be held responsible for throwing to the dogs the ideology of our past heroes - “to keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done.” Someone said the question is no longer “if Nigeria will split” but “when and how.”

It is better to turn around from a wrong course than continue along the same path which obviously is leading to doom. It becomes clearer that Nigerians have a common enemy who is responsible and who should be held accountable for all the wastage.

Everywhere we turn, there is news of death, corruption and decay; this is not the type of Nigeria that our past heroes fought for and left for us. We are all witnesses to what is happening to Nigeria today and no matter how hard we try to overlook it, we will fail because we are all party to it.

A SWIM IN THE OCEAN

It is not a pleasant idea to take a swim in the ocean so why do people delight in taking a stroll on the express roads and on the third mainland bridge and the Eko Bridge? For too many reasons, it is not a good idea.

Lagos State government has provided for sweepers to clean the streets and when they are seen working, they are easily recognized. Security men have been strategically position on the bridges to monitor movements of vehicles. Towing vans as well as road side mechanics are also seen on the express and on the bridges. The presence of young men walking aimlessly on the bridges and on the express is becoming quite disturbing.

I was driving from Anthony bus stop towards Ikorodu road and while making the curve to join Ikorodu road, I observed a group of boys struggling with a passenger in a vehicle to collect valuable stuff. The driver was fighting them back. The man got out of his car and chased as they fled because they had seen that he had a service pistol with him. This is the kind of thing that road users experience when people are allowed to loiter on major roads and on bridges.

On two separate occasions, I have been attacked by such boys while driving on Western Avenue at the Abaltti barracks end and also on the third mainland bridge towards Adekunle bus stop.

While appreciating the Lagos State governor for clearing out the people who have made their home under the bridges, we believe this move will bring about the effect of seeing a reduction in the number of boys who loiter on the bridges. It is high time people believe that under the bridge is not a settlement for the poor. The same goes for all homeless people in Lagos who sleep at the bus stops like Mr. Biggs/ Mobil/ Maryland bus stop. This is a very notorious area at night and very early in the morning. Road users around Onigbongbo, Obanikoro and GRA areas are not spared the harshness of these negative minded people.

The very fact that people claim not to have a home makes them a security risk to the state and a hazard to other citizens especially those whom they perceive to be showing affluence or looking down on them.

From petty pick-pocketing, these boys will grow to become burglars, robbers, rapists, arsonists as well as assassins.

COLD CASE FILES

Those cases that were investigated to the point where it became obvious that the quest was leading nowhere and the records and evidence are put away until a future date. That is what obtains in civilized societies but in a corrupt society, presidential order could be received from above and all investigations in a case and packed and filed away at best or destroyed.  Advancements in technology, new leads on the investigations or amendments of certain laws that hitherto prevented further progress with the investigations could be the reason for re-opening cold cases.

Too many cold case files will be re-opened as Nigeria progresses on this long walk in democracy. It is essential that government office holders and politicians who have mismanaged resources of the land be intimated with the fact that a day will come when we shall see “a pharaoh who knows no Joseph.”

Growing up in Nigeria, we always heard squeals from certain quarters for the outgoing administration to be probed by the in-coming one. After securing the reins of power, there will be the finalistic declaration that “there will be no probe of the previous administration.” This contributed largely to Fela’s summation that Nigerian government is “arrange master.”

Another declaration we often heard a lot is “I met an empty treasury.” Apparently, the new administration is making a loud declaration that the previous one left nothing behind with which to run the in-coming administration.

The military leadership of retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the late Gen. Tunde Idiagbon is the only one that has been bold enough to set up elaborate inquiry which many deride by labeling “kangaroo courts.” Without a doubt, the process and procedure of the probe was faulty and would have fared better had there been a little more transparency, equity and consideration for human rights; however it served the essential purpose of sending a very loud and clear message to office holders and corrupt politicians.

The impunity and arrogance displayed by these dishonorable citizens is very indecent. They have reached a level of decadence which makes them believe that they are “above the law” and they are entitled to whatever they loot from the national treasury. There are remunerations, allowances, emoluments and rights but there are also clearly defined boundaries which serve to prevent what is actually “abuse of office.”

It is very disrespectful as these people show a banditry approach towards the authority entrusted to them for the purpose of serving the nation and effectively manage its resources; it is very wrong for a poor civil servant who becomes a commissioner or a minister to acquire fleets of exotic cars which he could not afford before that time or to see him turn into a shipping magnate while holding office. We also see a man become a state governor and his sons and his brothers where who were lay-about before then, suddenly become oil moguls.

Much as they want to wish away their dishonorable conduct, this serves to remind them that cold case files can always be reopened for reviews even after half a century after crime has been committed and any one of them can be fingered because in truth, “no man should be above the law.”

NIGERIA OF OUR DREAM

Without wasting words on the present challenges that Nigeria is faced with, it gives a strange feeling of hope to do the exercise of imagining Nigeria in a much stronger position politically and economically. The position that South Africa presently occupies is an enviable one; largely due to colonization which lingered much longer than most others lasted. The presence of Africans of other races and with multiple citizenship has also greatly helped the position of South Africa.

Nigeria on the other hand broke free earlier and well trained politicians took the reins of power. Unfortunately, the intervention of the military and ensuing civil war set Nigeria back to a very large extent. The negative effects of military government are still visible in the politics and economy of Nigeria today. Thankfully, the government proposes to set in motion the implementation of transformations that will see Nigeria into an emerging economy.

One wonders if Nigeria would not have stood on much more steady footing if the military did not get involved in government.

Would Nigeria have been in the position to favourably compete with South Africa for the pride of position?

Maybe Nigeria would have been much better if the military did not dismiss and repatriate the expatriate teachers who taught in Nigerian schools or the expatriate professionals who served diligently and passionately in Nigeria.

I imagine and see Nigeria; a nation that pays civil servants so well because the spirit of entrepreneurship has taken over and the working class or focusing more on owning their own small businesses rather than taking up employment in the civil service and this has caused the government to improve the standard of remuneration for civil servants.

I see a Nigeria that invests so much in mass campaigns to inculcate in children the spirit of Nationalism starting from teaching in schools subjects like history. I see Nigeria producing well-trained graduates who know the true value of sustained development of the economy and the nation so that future generations will not grow up to an empty treasury.

I see a nation that has overcome the huddle of food production for the people such that Nigeria has no more reason to be selling and exporting her unprocessed natural resources for a pittance.

In my dreams I see a nation that when we tell stories of Nigeria, it is so enthralling, so inspiring and uplifting that the listener will never get enough.

MEANINGFUL CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is what many know as “giving back to society.” CSR is not expected to be an avenue for government to shirk its responsibility and put the load on corporations. While performing CSR, corporations are expected to equally benefit from whatever project they choose to embark upon.

A company for instance that sponsors a training centre within a secondary school or a technical college in its locality and also provides employment for people who have successfully completed such training will benefit just as the people in the locality. It is essential that the company considers carefully what will benefit the company as well as the people and not necessarily be too much of a burden on the company. It cost me many hours of deep thought before I came to understand that apart from poverty mentality, another negative factor that challenges the Nigerian society is what I like to identify as the “lets just start” syndrome. What this means is that people are gathered to form a group not by qualification or experience but just that there is a group and the group has a good number of members. One would expect that for a while, it would be like that until more refined groups are created on the level of qualification, education or experience.

I am able to identify CSR that tends to mock the people as another offshoot of the lets just start syndrome. In a bid to secure position or government contracts, some corporations sink borehole water supply in some communities where they can easily be spotted or they visit old people’s homes and orphanages with some miserable looking provision – food items and toiletries. Some others promise road maintenance projects that they do not have the capacity to fulfill. There have been one or two reality shows on television that offered vehicles as star prizes. One or two of winners of such contests have been children under 18 years of age. Winners are predominantly students. Some of the children come from homes that would do well if they were given the money’s worth of the vehicle. I am also not in support of this move because families could split over issues relating to who manages the money.

I received an advert on my phone which read that a promo of scholarships amounting to N750m was available for students who subscribed to a certain package of the network. I was surprised to see that corporate organizations now appreciate the need to put up awards of scholarships as the prize for contests. It is a laudable initiative which one would expect would be meaningful and not be a way of making jest of the people. Award of scholarship to students could be monitored by the organization in such a way that staff of the organization is detailed to monitor and mentor the recipient. Funds could be apportioned into school fees, tuition, books/materials and an agreed amount for pocket money.

There will be the very clear understanding that payments will stop when fund is exhausted or when the recipient drops out of school. However, if the funds cover the child’s education up to graduation from the university, the outstanding balance can be made available to the student in cash. This is a better way for companies to give CSR compared to the archaic way of sinking boreholes or giving some laughable pieces of provision or small amounts of money that will reduce to a joke after a large number of people are made to share.

Another good way of offering CSR is by funding the teaching of civics, etiquettes and decent social interactions among teenagers. The Nigerian school curriculum does not include these courses anymore but the negative impact on the youth of today not being exposed to such teachings is staring us all in the face. Such training can be held at the weekends or one or two hours after school for a few days in a month. Parents and grandparents of this generation received a lot more that what they are offering to pay for the interest of the education and decent grooming of their children and grandchildren. Corporations will benefit from projects like this in that they may no longer have to spend as much as they are currently doing on security personnel and devices.

For several months, many bank branches in Nigeria have been shut due to incessant armed robbery attacks. A lot of corporations would do well to look around their environment and see the quality of youth who surround their businesses; if the youth are idle, untrained and unemployed, there is no way such companies will be able to conduct business in peace. They will have to always be on the lookout for violent disturbances among the youth and other members of the community.

The peculiarity of the Nigerian democratic government makes it look like the government has abandoned most schools including government-owned schools. Where the government is falling short in its responsibility, it would be a welcome relief if companies operating in areas where such schools exist can fill in the gap created by the government. Sadly most of these schools have become obsolete. The buildings are weak and unsafe for human use; laboratories are almost non-existent and games and recreation are now left to the children to choose whatever catches their fancy to recreate with. These and many other factors have greatly contributed to a generation that almost sees education as a waste of time.

For any corporation that desires to carry out CSR, it is still priority that the young people be considered first and issues of security will naturally be taken care of.

WE MUST TALK ABOUT IT

It is not one of those issues that we can sweep under the carpet like several others in the past. An African adage says “when a big problem causes a man to fall, smaller problems will gladly jump on the man.”

Many people want us to move beyond the present scandal that the fuel subsidy probe has evolved into so to speak. We want to move forward but we can only make as much progress if we keep coming up against more stuff that has been swept under the carpet.

A lot of opinions are given from the position of past experience with military despots that ruled Nigeria; I am confident in declaring that Nigeria has seen the end of all tyrannical rule of illiterate military dictators. The fact that military men are allowed to contest elections and hold office is one indicator that they have agreed to do away with illegal military rule. To a large extent, democracy is guided by laws that are known to many.

Secondly, that bills and proposals must be channeled through the Senate and the House of Representatives is also a reason why no single person can hijack the process of governance. Attempts made in that vein will make the individual appear to be quite foolish.

The Nigerian people are assured that this scandal will not be swept under the carpet like others. When the probe panel was set and the honourable Faruok Lawan was nominated to head the panel, people were hopeful that a thorough and controversy-free inquiry would be done and responsible recommendations would be made to the government on how erring parties will be sanctioned. Time has proven that the investigation which was efficiently conducted in the view of Nigerians locally and internationally through internet and satellite broadcast has been brutally and recklessly sabotaged the greed of the same honourable Farouk Lawan.

Hon. Farouk Lawan will have to take responsibility for any other parliamentarian who is caught in this imbroglio. He is the leader and if his followers observe his misdemeanour and choose to follow suit, it his fault. He is the man in front inspite of whatever hoopla PDP is claiming regarding their awareness of the bribes – more like medicine after death. Hon. Farouk Lawan is responsible and should be so treated.

New revelations indicate that there was another exchange of N11bn between members of the committee and some oil marketers. We have passed the point of getting shocked or angry. What is required is further probing because it is now clear that there must be a lot of dirt that these oil marketers want to hide for them to hurriedly part with the sum of N11bn.

These business men/women and their companies were registered and approved by the NNPC or the federal government to operate as oil marketers of Nigeria. They were certified ok over well-meaning Nigerians who are better qualified but were never given a chance. These people looted and plundered Nigeria’s resources with reckless abandon. When the burden of shouldering the resultant shortage in the treasury became too heavy, the government sought to lay it on the consumers by demanding that they pay more for petrol. The protests of the consumers resulted in the panel being set up and of course decision makers, producers and consumers monitored the proceedings.

Bombings and killing of Nigerians and foreigners intensified in a bid to divert the attention of Nigerians from the fuel subsidy probe reports. Too many diversionary antics and pranks were set in motion and played out at the expense of Nigerians. Unnecessary delays almost made many Nigerians forget that we had this outstanding matter with the government and the committee of Hon. Farouk Lawan.

Ex-military head of state, ex-democratically elected president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared at a public gathering that the house of representatives is predominantly made up of thieves and robbers. In response, members threatened to summon him and sue him if he could not buttress his allegations.

By the time, Hon. Tambuwal returned from his meeting with Chief Obasanjo, the tune had changed. And since then, every new day shows a new dimension to the messy scandal. Much as many government officials may dislike hearing it, the truth is that Nigeria is so infested with corruption it stinks. A lot of Nigerians followed the proceedings of this inquiry and for the head of the panel to collect bribes and sabotage what seemed like a transparent inquiry, it makes one shudder to think of what other men and women in position have been doing and would still do when no one is watching them.

It is more frightening to imagine that the guilty would have been let off while the innocent are implicated and indicted by so-called honourable men who were elected by the people.

LADY FINENSWORTH OF GLIMGAZZ (FICTION)

Myth has it that Lady Finensworth is one of the many children sired by the giant, Goliath. At the monthly gathering of the drunkards of the village of Glimgazz at least one frustrated man would recycle the story of the purported origin of Lady Finensworth. It was said that Goliath attacked and sacked her grandfather, King Phyligorious from the throne, and took Lady Finensworth’s mother as his consort.

Lady Finensworth was born after the death of Goliath and she was immediately nominated to be the leader since she was the last in the lineage of King Phyligorious. When she came of age and ascended the throne, she was given two enchanted mirrors which Goliath was said to have stolen from the King of Persia’s treasury. Both of which had the power the show good or evil and the village took the life of what either of the mirrors showed the Lady Finensworth at any particular time. Armed with these mirrors she was able to effectively keep the village under her control.

One of the mirrors showed her a good, happy, peaceful and perfect picture of the village and whenever she sat before that mirror, the village would remain like that until she looked in the other mirror. The other mirror showed the village fully covered in a very thick black cloud and predominantly under siege by strange visitors who delighted in spilling the blood of the people.

She preferred the mirror that showed the good, peaceful and happy picture but she was compelled to watch and keep the one that foretold doom because it was said that it was the only way she could remain alive and on the throne.

The drunkards have been telling and re-telling this story since a young dark traveler passed through the village and suggested they kill her and destroy her mirrors. They resort to telling the story to console themselves because compared to the magical powers she possessed, they were all lame and dim-witted.

NOLLYWOOD MOVIE INDUSTRY: NEW ENTRANTS AND PRODUCERS

It is quite interesting to see the new crop of actors that the Nigerian movie industry is producing and the caliber of personality involved in the production of new quality movies. When members of the legislature chose to take the oil subsidy probe to the television for live broadcast, little did they know that movies most often come in parts. The probe itself was the first part of the movie.

For one of the highest profile Nigerians to accuse members of the legislature to be thieves is indicative of the fact that there must be some substance in the accusation and not mere “blowing breeze.”

One cannot now say if Hon. Tambuwal was invited or he requested audience; either way, he got audience with the statesman and was given the privilege of a “view” of the movie or ever since, “things have not remained the same.”

GOD knows what atrocities these people have been perpetrating in the name of the law and how much they have made from business people and government office holders alike while threatening them with a public show of their indiscretions. One wonders if it is about the high yield of profit involved that would attract such high profile industrialists to go into video production. Without stressing one’s mind too much the simple answer would be the need to have necessary documentation to prove what has been continually denied.

Mr. Herman Hembe knew he had compromised his authority and went ahead to chair a panel that set out to probe Ms. Arunma Oteh. When she laid her cards on the table for all to see, the “table turned.” Now Mr. Hembe is accusing Ms. Oteh of using her position in the EFCC to “witch-hunt” him. If she had not been confident enough – maybe due to the quality of backing she has – to expose Mr. Hembe, she would have quietly gone down in history as another corrupt woman in the Nigerian economic environment.

Others in similar position watched and probably realized the need to have evidence – proof of what transpires between them and members of the legislature.

The Hon. Farouk Lawan led panel probing the fuel subsidy had done a good job of almost exposing the face of the people behind the mask; too bad, the leader compromised and became an actor in a movie produced without his knowledge.

Many others are watching and this is a good sign for Nigeria and the people of Nigeria; it is victory for democracy because in the military era, no one dared this kind of stuff. Such a producer would simply “disappear forever.”

We still expect a lot more from this oil subsidy probe movie production.

BETWEEN ENLISTING FOR PAYMENTS OF DUES AND MEMBERSHIP OF REGULATORY BODIES

Associations take different forms but the bottom-line is that association accedes to the fact that one is recognized as belonging to a body. Reasons for association also vary. Associations however must be operating within the boundaries of the law within the community it is operating in for it to be considered legitimate.

Regulatory bodies are instituted by the government to ensure that members of associations operate within certain codes, rules and regulations. These bodies are meant to monitor and control the activities of such associations and the individuals who make up the association.

Nigeria has several regulatory bodies overseeing various fields of profession and practice. Examples of regulatory bodies in Nigeria are the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Universities Council (NUC). Members are licensed for a fee and other dues are paid as they are being demanded by the regulatory body.

Secretariats of the regulatory bodies are usually well furnished and equipped with every sense of operating as a corporate environment. They are maintained by donations, aid/grants, levies and dues which they collect from members and bigger bodies of the same profession or philanthropists. Most of them convene conventions, meetings and other functions.

Associations are known to provide protection for members from harsh policies of employers and government as well as every element of hostility from other members of the community.  There have been cases of mismanagement which were reported to these associations and with the intervention of the association some of satisfaction was attained by the injured party.

It is pertinent to note at this time that a lot of regulatory bodies in Nigeria do not provide any form of regulation to control the practice of their members. It is appalling to find that there is no clear standard of how much space a clinic, a maternity home or a hospital should occupy. In other words, the basic requirements is adequate space for reception, for consulting room(s), for the doctor’s office, for observation room, for theater(s), for toilet and bathroom, for parking and maybe secure space for a power generator.

It is quite embarrassing to observe that a lot of hospitals do not have as much space to provide a lot of what is mentioned above. Without over-stressing that it is only in Nigeria that such things happen, we can quickly mention that such can be found in India, in Sudan and in Brazil. However, Nigeria is the country in focus at the moment and it is not as if every doctor must own a private practice but after so many years of operating at the level of “lets just start” it is about time that so-called regulatory bodies put guidelines in place which must be strictly adhered to by professionals who are licensed by the body.

Doctors who operate private practice that fall short of the standard of the regulatory body must be prevented and their license to operate must be suspended until they are able to provide sufficient proof to their claim of solvency. It is just not about them paying their dues and attending all social functions of the body but about being responsible to members of the public. Pricing would also need to be regulated to ensure that the consumer is not made to suffer for the regulation of the practice by unwholesome charges being meted out to consumers.

In the last few years, there has been a steady increase in the number of buildings collapsing and killing several people. This is an indictment on the body that regulates the practice of Civil and Structural Engineering. The practice of building is now looking like an “all are welcome party.” The noble profession is steadily going to the dogs because of unprofessional and indecent mediocre that have come into the field. In the bid to cut costs and to make a little extra gain, unsafe structures are turned out for members of the public to acquire and the building comes down taking the lives of so many along.

 Lagos State government has declared the intention to start prosecuting contractors whose buildings collapse. What effort is being made by the regulatory bodies to ensure that professional and decent inspection exercises are carried out without compromising the stipulated standards of the body? We received reports of an uncompleted structure that collapsed in Awka on the 7^th of June, 2012 killing five people; the structure is being put up in one of the universities and the intention must have been for it to accommodate students, lecturers or other staff of the institution. Thankfully, the number of people who lost their lives is not as high as would have been the case if the structure had been completed and fully occupied. There will be speeches and threats of all sorts but what is the contribution of the regulatory body?

Unfortunately, no area is spared this negative style of monitoring and control. The sad impact is that lives are being lost while some corrupt and indecent people who are supposed to ensure good management and accountability cut corners and smile all the way to the bank.

While Nigerians await results from investigation of the plane which crashed on Sunday 3^rd of June, 2012, a note warning goes to the bodies which are supposed to oversee monitoring and control that they cannot be exonerated from this tragedy. Until proven, every report or story that has been said about the state of the aircraft remains untenable; however, whatever the result shows as the cause of the crash will not clear Nigerian regulatory bodies of failure on their part to draw up a programe for regular checks, monitoring and control of airlines and their aircrafts.

The summary of this record of ineptitude on the part of regulatory bodies is an uncivilized approach to modern day issues. Uncivilized in the sense that rather than laying down codes of ethics, rules and regulations which would be followed to the letter, yardsticks are formed and shifted to favour whoever the leaders desire to favour. This is another area where our other associations have an overriding influence over what would cover the interest of the larger society.

THIS DIRE NEED TO SEGREGATE

There has always been this element of wanting to be different as a means of establishing supremacy. In every gathering of human beings, that element always rears its head and some individuals take great delight in promoting segregation. While appreciating the need to segregate, it would also not be out of place to expect that adequate infrastructure are put in place to justify the additional cost being charged for special treatment. In every gathering of human beings especially a society where the people have been made to contribute their own share of the cost of development in the form of tax, it will not be asking too much of these basic amenities are made available.

For whatever reason another sector of the society chooses to segregate itself and classify itself differently, it is understandable and they should bear the brunt of such dissociation. However in the Nigeria example, it becomes a systemic issue broadly affecting the society as there is no improvement in the “special service” which people are being charged for.

Unity schools in Nigeria for instance have already been separated from state schools and private schools as it were but some years back, there was a grand design to carve out of the unity schools, a special school for gifted children. Whatever became of the project is not known to the reporter.

Out of the ill-equipped, poorly paid and ill-motivated Nigeria Police Force, the SFU was carved out for financial crimes and offences. The EFCC and ICPC were also carved out from the larger body of the NPF for the purpose of finance related crimes and offences. Only recently, the EFCC started to clamour for a court within its system so it could try cases brought before it instead of having to endure the delays in the judicial system. This gives reason for inquiry in that one would like to know what laws the EFCC would apply in prosecuting and judging cases.

Institutions and manufacturers take advantage of the inclination of people to want to be different from others while not necessarily providing any improved service or product. It is not proper for medical service providers like the Lagos University Teaching Hospital to carve out private wards in the hospital for patients who desire privacy or better service only to provide service that does not in any way come close to what is being offered in the open ward. A private ward in LUTH not having a service bell or any means for the patient to get the attention of nurses or ward attendants is an aberration. Visiting hours for patients in the open ward are restricted and the same applies to the private ward. Meals are delayed to the point of torture and the medications being provided for patients in private wards are not different from what is being offered to patients in the open ward.

This appears to be another fraud on the part of management of the institution; rather than providing privacy and a higher grade of medical service what it turns out to be is isolation of the patient. If family and friends are not available to be of help to the patient, he or she is left alone like one who is being quarantined. Patient is safer and happier in the open ward. I recall when my elder sister was on admission in LUTH several years back, she was in the open ward and being someone with a very high level of interaction, she naturally attracted other patients and the ward staff and she had no dull moments. She always had interesting stories to tell me the following day about incidents that occurred in the few hours between my last visit. There were private wards but we declined because we saw the need for her to be in the midst of human beings as key to her recovery; so what purpose do these private wards serve if not to simply isolate patients from people and for a higher fee.

Several weeks back, the first lady Dame (Dr.) Patience Goodluck Jonathan visited Lagos on a supposed courtesy visit to appreciate the good people of Lagos State who voted in the president and some aides of hers took the liberty of blocking off routes that she was likely to drive through causing a chaotic gridlock which held Lagos road users for hours. A lot of people lost a valuable day as a result of the blockage. It was not necessary because if the good people of Lagos State voted for the president, how come they would turn around to attack his wife? Lagos does not pose any security threat to the first lady and why she chose to display such disrespect for the people of Lagos is not out of fear of being attacked but out the need to look different. This need to segregate is beginning to look ridiculous and government officials seem not to know when to stop.

Accusations, counter accusations and denials are being passed over her involvement in the plane crash which resulted in the loss of the lives of over 190 people on Sunday, the 3^rd of June, 2012.

It is indeed very disturbing to receive reports on Friday, the 8^th of June, 2012 of alleged inaccessibility of aircrafts to landing at the Abuja Airport due to what was termed VIP movement. This is very insensitive as it is coming just five days after the avoidable crash and waste of lives, relationships and dreams. A lot of corpses are yet to be identified and some people still go out to mete out this kind of uncivilized display in a bid to segregate – to stand out.

Psychologists have identified the obsessive need to segregate as an offshoot of inferiority complex. It is a neurotic condition and an aberration. It must be seen as what it is and treated early and effectively.

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO OUR TRAVAILS

History, the study of past incidence in the lives of people; their exploits, their achievements, etc. The school curriculum included the study of history when I was in primary school. Such studies basically told the stories of the coming of the missionaries and colonial masters, the effort of great men and women of honour who worked tirelessly until independence was secured for Nigeria and the stories also included the exploits of past warriors like Queen Amina of Zazau, Uthman Dan Fodio, Queen Iden of the Benin Empire, Queen Moremi of Oyo, etc.

By the time I started the study of history at secondary school level, the syllabus dwelt largely on the origin of the earliest of man. The study of Geography also helped us understand that the earliest days of the existence of man exposed man to untold hardship. The early man was predominantly exposed to harsh weather conditions, attacks from predators that continually preyed on man because he roamed the Plaines and fields without a home. The few caves that were inhabited by some were not enough to provide shelter for all.

Many large birds and reptiles, most of which have become extinct were very notorious predators that very actively preyed on the man who did not have the safe confines of a cave to protect him. Smaller animals also had a field day tormenting the man who did not have a home.

Activities of the weather such as rain, hailstorms, erosion, volcanoes, landslides, etc also did much damage to the man who did not have a home to protect him.

A combination of all these needs made it necessary for man to create his own space which he secured to the best of his ability. Man took up the challenge to work hard to make his space safe and comfortable. Other perks like coziness came as things improved for him. Man’s resourcefulness could be seen in how comfortable, cozy and secure his space was. With improved technological innovations, man became more sophisticated in his taste and style. New technology also allowed for improved health care and so mortality rates improved. People no longer died so easily from attacks of flu, cholera or pneumonia. Man did not rest in his quest to provide the best for himself and his family though life seemed to stabilize.

The elements which ensured that life seemed to stabilize were values, ethics as well as norms. People saw themselves as members of a society and they appreciated the society as well as other members of the society. They took pride in the fact that they were recognized as members of the society and they looked forward to receiving justice as well as what they had earned as members of the society.

The need for more space and more income as well as the ever evolving technology gradually made people drift away from the original society to a new society. The exodus of a wide variety of cultures and traditions saw people down playing their original values and ethics. The new society provided the perfect cover for character flaws in people who were never given any breathing space in their places of origin. Strangely, the allure of a life without values and ethics has proved to be so strong that people who know better have long thrown their “pearls to swine.” Two things will naturally follow, one is that the swine will attack them and the second is that they will have to live with the after effect of the attack.

The new society brought upon the people strange demons that manifest attitudes and life style that depict a people who have lost touch with their history and a people who have no idea at all of their heritage.

Neighbours adulterate goods, medicines and other consumable items which they sell to their neighbours who consume such stuff and perish while they smile all the way to the bank. Government officials see nothing wrong in diverting and mismanaging resources that are meant for improving the lot of the people.

That women trade their bodies for a meal is no longer news; what is news is that women and men now co-star with animals in pornographic movies for position and wealth.

A man goes all out to marry a woman and he ends up killing her for ritual purposes. A man gets so angry with his wife he kills her. A young man professes love for a woman and also strangles the woman to death.

We continue to witness news of people becoming more intolerant of other people. With every new day, we receive news of violent death of people in the hands of loved ones and in the hands of strangers for reasons which could in the past have been ironed out. People are bombed to death in places of worship and planes crash into people’s homes while they are indoors.

“The eyes that weep still see,” and it appears like the new society has taken the people several steps back in time. It has taken people back to the dark ages when human existence was very difficult. In the dark ages, there was no electricity, there was no security of lives and property and in every household was a herbalist to conjure up herbal mixtures for good health and well being of members of the household. In short, anything could happen at any time in the dark ages. Every man was his own government and the strongest men appointed a leader whom they could fiddle with as they fancied in view of their own selfish interest and not in the interest of the whole.

DANA AIRLINE - PLANE CRASH: AVIATION EXPERTS PROTEST GOVERNMENT’S TECHNICAL PANEL

The outcry of aviation experts over the government’s 9-man technical panel led by Group Captain John Obakpolor to investigate the 03/06/12 plane crash at Iju-Ishaga is not at all out of place.

Reasons given for their protests include the fact that Obakpolor is considered not to be competent enough to investigate the crash; Mr. Obi Ogbolu who was once a pilot and air traffic controller acknowledged the fact that Obakpolor is in the aviation industry but there are specialists who are currently in the employ of the government who are available to carry out a thoroughly professional investigation. He stressed that if they are found to be deficient, expatriates or other qualified investigators may be invited to support their effort.

Captain Mohammed Joji who is the General Secretary, Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) said it is wrong for government to set up a parallel panel to what is already available. He stressed that US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Nigeria with the CAT One and the Accident Investigation Bureau is available and already on ground.

Captain Muhammed Tukur also aired his displeasure with the institutioning of the 9-man panel for the purpose of probing the crash.

The Category 1 certification was given to Nigeria by the US FAA in August, 2010; it put Nigeria in the rank of the 6^th African country providing and guarantying the highest safety standards in global aviation.

The cerfication also put Nigeria in a position to make her an aviation hub in West Africa in that aircrafts registered in Nigeria can fly directly into US destinations.

The investigation of this plane crash is not an issue to be swept under the carpet again. The black box of the aircraft has been extracted and dispatched to the US for thorough analysis and investigation. The manpower or resources for such investigation are not available in Nigeria. It is also expected that the US FAA be invited to support the Nigerian specialists in carrying out this investigation if the government is sincere about getting to the bottom of this incident.

There have been rumours of previous faults with the plane and the need to take the plane in for complete overhaul and servicing which the management of DANA Airline has refuted. A careful and complete analysis may help in determining the true state of the aircraft; however, previous incidence of manipulations of probe reports in Nigeria does not make room for confidence that the true reports will see the light of day in Nigeria. It must also be clear to all concerned that findings will be made available to the US FAA; whatever is reported in Nigeria must be carefully considered or else Nigeria stands the risk of the earlier awarded certification being reviewed.

The US has repeated the summation that Nigeria has failed to deal with its corruption issues which were raised by Hillary R. Clinton and this will be a good opportunity to begin to address these disturbing labeling.

The crash is a sorrowful occurrence which has left many with shattered dreams, agonizing memories that will never be wiped away and the mortal fear of flying on aircrafts either on the domestic or international routes. It is only fair that those who lost their loved ones are informed of the truth about the crash. Insurance issues should also be concluded as quickly as possible so as not to make mockery of people in their grief.

We will reiterate here that Nigerians have been accused of being suspicious of the government; Nigerians have witnessed many investigations that were concluded and reports were never released. Nigerians have also witnessed probes which were instituted to investigate causes of previous plane crashes and whatever the results were obtained were never made public. This is another opportunity for this government to redeem what honour it can from the citizens and all foreign nationals who lost their loved ones in this crash.

WHY HE WILL NOT MARRY

Many explanations have been put forward for the reason why men are no longer keen on getting married and those who are married are on the lookout for the flimsiest excuse to escape from marriage. The most notorious of these men are those who have once been married because it would be easier to get an elephant to pass through the eye of a needle than to get them to commit to any one woman again.

One of the earliest reasons given was that men lacked the discipline to choose only one woman and stay true to her. This held true for another generation of men who delighted in sampling diverse specimen of women.

Another reason given was that these men had struck the pot of luck and they were on the loose, spreading the loot especially among women.

In other cases, women were blamed for snatching another woman’s man. All these reasons have at one point in the past held true and they led to the break of many homes and marriages.

We see many cases of men living off women. Some men have reached the point where they see nothing wrong in staying home all day while the woman goes out to work. There were one or two of such cases in the past and they were highly celebrated because friends and family would not allow the man in such a relationship to have an easy ride.

The woman who has money and not much of brain is more likely to get married than a sharp career woman. Better still, if the rich girl is generous and will to allow the man control the money. When issues begin to arise over spending, hostility sets in and over a little time, the true feeling of the husband will become clear.

I had reason to intercede on behalf of a young man who had left home unceremoniously after he fell out of favour with his father. The father insisted that his son had come of age and he should go out and fend for himself. I reminded the father that the son was jobless; he said to me that he has a good body and if he is lucky to find a well-to-do woman who would habour him, he would have a meal ticket as well as shelter if his conduct satisfies the woman.

It did not immediately sink in but over the last few months, I have heard stories of young men who go all out in search of women who are in need of a man to satisfy their physiological needs while they in turn pick up the young man’s bills. This is not a new phenomenon among society women especially; it explains why many more girls who are old enough to get married are not being married by the young men anymore.

A young man is taken in by a woman who explains to all who ask that he is her husband; this is indicative of a fire on the mountain.

In another scenario, a woman starts a romantic relationship with a young man and from as early as the second date, he begins to offload all his finance related burdens on her. And in a bid to please the young lover, the woman begins to put him in her budget. So long as the money keeps getting to the young man, the woman is assured of a young Turk in her life.

Issues of not wanting to marry arise when the young man makes it a career to flip from one woman to the other, especially as the finance of one dwindles and he comes across another who is more buoyant and generous.

Such relationships may span many years, children may be born out of such escapades and this will on the one hand boost the man’s image that he is able reproduce and other hand it will attend to the demand form grandchildren by the man’s parents. Parents who can live with such behavior will not mind that the children are coming from many different women. They just want to confirm that their boy can produce grandchildren so they too can dorn the glorious tag of grandparents.

By the time one has confronted all these reasons what reason would there be for the young man to marry? There is just no reason why he will marry.

RESPECT – A HIGHLY TASKING DEMAND

Every man has an invisible tag on his forehead which reads “respect me.” Respect offered upfront makes it easier to start any new relationship. Every man loves the feeling of being respected and the hardest of men are softened up by simple acts of respect.

Why anyone would think another does not need to be respected is quite a baffling issue. It was the in-thing to see kids developing a sick sounding accent in the name of wanting to sound “foreign.” Quite foreign indeed because they do really sound strange.  They begin to dress strange and act strange and in due time it begins to manifest that they no longer see reason to show respect to anyone; especially themselves. They will only respect the one who shows supremacy in cash or in physical might – usually with a gun.

A young man I knew as far back as when he was 12 years old, who looked up to me as mother until he turned 25 saw no reason why he should respect me anymore. He had just realized that it is befitting for him to address me by my first name. I was very quick to point out to him that his mother is only two years my senior.

I once had a driver whom I had reason to reprimand very harshly because I observed that he was quick in speaking nastily to female drivers while in traffic. I banned him from ever speaking to such people whenever I am in the car with him. I expressly told him that any one of those women could be his employer just like me and that his behavior showed that he could imagine that he could speak to me in like manner.

It is always a good feeling when one approaches someone they have always shown respect for one form of assistance or the other. The outcome will be at least a warm reception first and maybe a referral; unlike if it were the other way round – the sure outcome will be a solid wall of resistance.

Respect never hurt anyone so I wonder why it is such a problem for people to show respect. Showing respect for no reason other than respect costs nothing while in return, it yields goodwill. Goodwill always comes in handy in the journey of a man especially on days when he does not expect to meet the kind of huddles that would constitute an obstacle on his path.

A WONDERFUL WORLD

It was designed to be a wonderful and a beautiful world. Louis Armstrong appreciated the birds, the trees, the woman in his life and all the other beautiful people he came in contact with and his view of life was indeed broad and encompassing. It transcended lives, homes, continents and generations he never knew would come.

I see that what now seems like bleakness and dark clouds thickened by smoke and the stench of lives cut short in their prime indeed still remains a beautiful world. It truly depends on one’s perception; what I am putting down today is my own perception. To develop the ability to perceive things from a higher perspective requires a keen sense of gratitude. The very fact that one is able to rise from where he laid his body to take a rest the previous evening is enough reason to be grateful. The grace of being able to see the blue sky and hear the birds chirping are awesome reasons to be grateful. It takes a grateful heart to see that those beautiful elements of nature still remain. Indeed it is a wonderful world and being a part of this wonderful world is reason enough to be grateful.

This world has never been known to be static; it is a dynamic one that witnesses and provides space for change with every new day. There was a time in the past that no day went by without reports of ethno-tribal or religious conflicts that led to skirmishes and battles. This world witnessed and survived the first and second world wars; Nigeria witnessed and survived the civil war.

The changes that we have seen have predominantly brought about many more ways of living a richer, longer and better life. Like everything in creation, there are merits and demerits. The school of thought that holds that the world is no longer safe or beautiful perceives that technological advancements witnessed by the world are the reasons for decadence and intolerance among the people of today. However, these innovations are simply a bonus to the beauty of this world in that the basic elements and aspects remain available for the mind that is grateful enough to perceive them. It does not require any strategic spiritual moves or exercises to perceive; just a grateful heart.

I always appreciate the inventors, chemists, etc for their contributions to this world because I sometimes wonder what I would have done in the past if I needed to cover a great distance by foot or if I had the need for medical care or even if I had to undergo a surgical procedure. Even the simplest of surgical procedures took the lives of many in the past. I appreciate the fact that we have vehicles, okadas, aero planes, choppers, ships, etc to help us cover great and short distances that would ordinarily have been burdensome to cover by foot in the past. Makes me wonder how much horrors my ancestors must have endured in their time. Yes, along with these have come plane hijackers, suicide bombers, pirates as well as highway robbers. It however does not take away the fact that it is still a wonderful world.

I catch myself in my own tracks a lot of the time rushing over one pursuit or the other; in this rush, I overlook a lot of the simple joys around me. This happens to a lot of people; rushing to me is the first sign that I am getting too deeply engrossed in things that most often end in dissatisfaction. Rushing is not the same as being quick or being fast but we shall leave that for another discourse.

WE HAVE MET BEFORE

I didn’t just know about it today.
We have met before; we are not strangers to one another
In the bleakest of situations, it still gives no notice of its plan to strike
It strikes as it is sent
It strikes and takes away the young and the old
It takes the rich, the poor, the handsome, the beautiful as well the ugly
It takes the prepared and the unwilling
It takes the vastly knowledgeable as well as the totally unenlightened
Be it the one who dwells on the path of power or the path of love; once it is time to go, it is time to go.
It is completely indifferent to our tears or our grief; it picks in its stride and leaves on another errand.
No one has yet succeeded in negotiating successfully with it; it always turns out to be a joke.

Ah! My beloved, I feel your anguish!
I look at your once bright and joyful home and today it feels like the supply of power has been cut off.
Your once warm home, feels so cold and damp because the cold hands have taken away the warmth.
You sit in the darkness that now pervades your home, alone in your thoughts as you wonder for the umpteenth time if it is true.
You don’t want to believe it because they will not allow you see it
You still believe your love will come through the doorway joyfully and noisily as always because your mind does not want to accept it
You believe that GOD in His mercies will single you out because you love Him.

Beloved! Brace up!
Death is its name; a mere messenger to be acknowledged and not at all to be feared – the inevitable date of all who are born into this world.
Arise and live because you are alive and life must go on!
You will eat, you will laugh again.
Yes, you will be happy again.
You will make love and fall in love again.
You will be fruitful and even the one who seems to have gone will come again.
Come alive! Live life again because life must go on; sadly with or without you!